Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H1/00—Toothed gearings for conveying rotary motion
  • F16H1/28—Toothed gearings for conveying rotary motion with gears having orbital motion
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H57/00—General details of gearing
  • F16H57/08—General details of gearing of gearings with members having orbital motion
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H57/00—General details of gearing
  • F16H57/08—General details of gearing of gearings with members having orbital motion
  • F16H57/082—Planet carriers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H7/00—Gearings for conveying rotary motion by endless flexible members
  • F16H7/02—Gearings for conveying rotary motion by endless flexible members with belts; with V-belts

Definitions

• the disclosure herein relates to a gearbox comprising a plurality of gears or other engaging members. More particularly, it relates to an apparatus providing a drive member that rotates at a different rate as a driven member.
• a typical planetary gearbox comprises a central pinion (sun), a central ring (orbit), and a group of offset pinions (planets) which ride on a carrier. It has advantages over an offset gearbox that include coaxial drive axes, high load capacity, and low pitch velocity (noise). These come at the expense of the production cost, friction, and reverse bending that result from the orbit ring. In addition, geometric constraints limit the minimum reduction ratio to 2: 1 theoretically, and approximately 5:2 practically.
• the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein resemble an epicyclic gearbox with its orbit ring replaced by a second carrier which is cheaper to produce, creates less friction, and does not introduce reverse bending.
• a reduced pitch velocity generates less vibration and noise for improved high speed operation, and a minimum theoretical reduction ratio of 1 : 1 enables practical ratios of 5:4 or lower.
• Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a reference member, a front carrier, a rear carrier, and one or more offset members.
• the reference member comprises a central axis, a front carrier axis, and a rear carrier axis.
• the front carrier comprises one front central axis and a number of front offset axes equal to the number of offset members.
• the rear carrier comprises one rear central axis and a number of rear offset axes equal to the number of offset members.
• Each offset member comprises a front member axis and a rear member axis. All axes are parallel.
• the front and rear carrier axes are spaced apart by a carrier distance.
• Each front offset axis and the front central axis are spaced apart by an offset distance.
• Each rear offset axis and the rear central axis are spaced apart by the offset distance. All front offset axes are arranged circumferentially around the front central axis. All rear offset axes are arranged circumferentially around the rear central axis. All associated front and rear member axes are spaced apart by the carrier distance.
• the front central axis is co-axial and rotatably coupled to the front carrier axis.
• the rear central axis is co-axial and rotatably coupled to the rear carrier axis.
• Each front member axis is co-axial and rotatably coupled to a different front offset axis and each rear member axis is co-axial and rotatably coupled to a different rear offset axis.
• Certain exemplary embodiments further comprise a central member which is co-axial and rotatably coupled to the central axis and all central and offset members are engaging members. [08] In certain exemplary embodiments, the central member simultaneously engages all offset members.
• Certain exemplary embodiments further comprise one or more flexible couplings engaging the central member with all offset members.
• the central axis is between the front and rear carrier axes.
• the central and front carrier axes are co-axial.
• the central and rear carrier axes are co-axial.
• Certain exemplary embodiments comprise three offset members and all front and rear offset axes are circumferentially equally spaced around the associated front and rear central axes.
• Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a reference member, a front carrier, a rear carrier, one or more offset members, and a central member.
• the reference member comprises a central axis, a front carrier axis, and a rear carrier axis which are all parallel, and wherein the front and rear carrier axes are spaced apart by a carrier distance.
• the front carrier comprises one front central axis and one front offset axis for each offset member, which are all parallel. All front offset axes are arranged circumferentially around, and spaced an offset distance away from, the front central axis.
• the rear carrier comprises one rear central axis and one rear offset axis for each offset member, which are all parallel.
• All rear offset axes are arranged circumferentially around, and spaced the offset distance away from, the rear central axis.
• Each offset member comprises a front member axis and a rear member axis which are parallel and spaced apart by the carrier distance.
• the front central axis is co-axial and rotatably coupled to the front carrier axis.
• the rear central axis is co-axial and rotatably coupled to the rear carrier axis.
• Each front member axis is co-axial and rotatably coupled to a different front offset axis.
• Each rear member axis is co-axial and rotatably coupled to a different rear offset axis.
• the central member is co-axial and rotatably coupled to the central axis. All of the central and offset members are engaging members and the central member simultaneously engages all offset members.
• the central axis is between the front and rear carrier axes.
• the central axis is co-axial with the front carrier axis.
• the central axis is co-axial with the rear carrier axis.
• a reference member, a front carrier, a rear carrier, and one or more offset members are provided.
• the reference member is provided with a central axis, a front carrier axis, and a rear carrier axis.
• the front carrier is provided with one front central axis and a number of front offset axes equal to the number of offset members.
• the rear carrier is provided with one rear central axis and a number of rear offset axes equal to the number of offset members.
• Each offset member is provided with a front member axis and a rear member axis. All axes are located whereby they are all parallel.
• the front and rear carrier axes are spaced apart by a carrier distance.
• Each front offset axis and the front central axis are spaced apart by an offset distance.
• Each rear offset axis and the rear central axis are spaced apart by the offset distance.
• All front offset axes are arranged circumferentially around the front central axis.
• All rear offset axes are arranged circumferentially around the rear central axis.
• All associated front and rear member axes are spaced apart by the carrier distance.
• the front central and front carrier axes are co-axially located, and rotatably coupled.
• the rear central and rear carrier axes are co-axially located, and rotatably coupled.
• Each front member axis and a different front offset axis are co-axially located, and rotatably coupled.
• Each rear member axis and a different rear offset axis are co-axially located, and rotatably coupled.
• a central member is provided, co-axially located, and rotatably coupled to the central axis, and the central member and all offset members are provided with an engaging means.
• the central member is simultaneously engaged with all offset members.
• one or more flexible couplings are provided and simultaneously engaged with the central member and one or more offset members.
• the central axis is located between the front and rear carrier axes.
• the central axis is co-axially located with the front carrier axis.
• the central axis is co-axially located with the rear carrier axis.
• a total of three offset members are provided and all front and rear offset axes are circumferentially equally spaced around the associated front and rear central axes.
• Figs 1A-1G are respectively, a schematic side view, a front view, a cross-sectional side view, two exploded perspective views, an internal front view, and an internal rear view, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a reference member and its associated axes.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear carrier and its associated axes.
• Fig 4 is a side and perspective view of an offset member and its associated axes.
• Figs 5A-5D are four partial outline views, in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention advanced to four incremental angles.
• FIG. 6 is a schematic side view in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention comprising co-axial central and front carrier axes.
• FIG 7 is a schematic side view in accordance with a third exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention comprising co-axial central and rear carrier axes.
• FIG 8 is a schematic side view in accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention comprising a floating central member.
• FIG. 9 is a schematic side view in accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention comprising a floating rear carrier.
• Fig 10 is a schematic side view in accordance with a sixth exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention comprising offset members with crank-shafts.
• Fig 11 is a schematic side view in accordance with a seventh exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention comprising a ring central member.
• Fig 12 is a schematic side view in accordance with an eighth exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention comprising offset members with crank-shafts and a ring central member.
• FIG. 13 is a partial outline view in accordance with a ninth exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention comprising plural flexible couplings.
• Fig 14 is a partial outline view in accordance with a tenth exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention comprising a serpentine coupling.
• Figs 15A-15D are respectively, a schematic side view, a perspective view, and two rear views, in accordance with an eleventh exemplary embodiment depicting the present invention comprising a single offset member and a capstan cable coupling.
• a gear, sprocket, pulley, friction or magnetic coupling, or any other type of member that engages and transmits power to a mate is defined as an engaging member.
• An engaging member that engages on its exterior surface is defined as a pinion.
• An engaging member that engages on its interior surface is defined as a ring.
• a cable drive comprising two counter-acting, pre-loaded cables that are fixedly attached to two pulleys, is defined as a capstan cable coupling.
• a chain, belt, cable, or any other means that changes shape while transmitting power between two or more engaging members is defined as a flexible coupling.
• a flexible coupling that simultaneously couples three or more engaging members is defined as a serpentine coupling.
• a member that is constrained to rotate about an axis by three or more tangential engaging members but by no other mechanical means is defined as floating.
• crankshaft Two parallel, offset shafts integrated by a connecting member is defined as a crankshaft.
• An apparatus that scales the relative speed and torque of a drive and driven member is defined as a gearbox, whether or not it comprises any gears.
• a gearbox that reduces velocity and amplifies torque is defined as a reduction gearbox.
• a gearbox that amplifies velocity and reduces torque is defined as an overdrive gearbox.
• a gearbox that may function as either a reduction or an overdrive gearbox is defined as back-drivable.
• spur gears, pulleys, belts and cables are depicted in the accompanying drawings, it is understood that many other engaging means would suffice, such as conical, radial, offset, spiral, helical, double helical, herring-bone, or roller tooth gears, friction or magnetic couplings, and chain drives. It is also understood that associated gears may comprise any face width, tooth profile, pressure angle, or module and may be made from metal, plastic, or any other appropriate material.
• a male shaft and female race are used to depict a rotatable coupling in the accompanying drawings, it is understood that any other means will suffice, such as antifriction bearings, bushings, or low friction coatings, materials, surface treatments or lubricants. It is also understood that the male and female members of a rotatable coupling may often be interchanged.
• a back-drivable gearbox may provide either reduction or overdrive gearing by interchanging the roles of its drive and driven members.
• the roles of the reference, drive member and driven member may all be interchanged to obtain a desired reduction or overdrive ratio, or to cause the drive and driven members to rotate in the same or opposite directions.
• a differential mechanism is obtained if any one is used as a drive member and the remaining two are used as driven members. Reduction, overdrive, differential, and reverse gearboxes are all contemplated.
• any one of the reference member 10, the central member 30, an offset member 31, or the front or rear carrier 20, 21, may act as the reference with any other member acting as the drive or driven member.
• FIGs 1A-1G illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention providing a reduction ratio between a first drive-shaft 11 and a second drive-shaft 12.
• the first exemplary embodiment comprises a reference member 10, a front carrier 20, a rear carrier 21, a central member 30, and three equivalent offset members 31.
• the reference member 10 acts as the case of the gearbox and comprises a central axis 1, a front carrier axis 2, and a rear carrier axis 3, all of which are parallel.
• the front carrier axis 2 is spaced apart from the rear carrier axis 3 by a carrier distance 40, and the central axis 1 is mid- way between the front carrier axis 2 and rear carrier axis 3.
• the front carrier 20 comprises a front central axis 4 and three front offset axes 6, which are circumferentially equally spaced, and spaced an offset distance 41 away from the front central axis 4.
• the front carrier 20 and second drive-shaft 12 are co-centric and integral.
• the second carrier 21 comprises a rear central axis 5 and three rear offset axes 7, which are circumferentially equally spaced, and spaced an offset distance 41 away from the rear central axis 5.
• the front central axis 4 is rotatably coupled to the front carrier axis 2 and the rear central axis 5 is rotatably coupled to the rear carrier axis 3.
• Each offset member 31 comprises a front shaft 13 defining a front member axis 6 and a rear shaft 14 defining a rear member axis 7.
• the front and rear member axes 6, 7 are parallel and spaced apart by the carrier distance 40.
• the center of each offset member 31 is mid-way between the associated front and rear member axes 6, 7.
• Each front member axis 8 is rotatably coupled to a different front offset axis 6 and each rear member axis 9 is rotatably coupled to a different rear offset axis 7.
• the central member 30 and first drive-shaft 11 are co-centric and integral.
• the first drive- shaft 11 is rotatably coupled to the central axis 1.
• the central member 30 and all offset members 31 are all substantially equivalent pinion gears.
• the central member 30 simultaneously engages all offset members 31 providing a fixed, non-slip reduction ratio between the first and second drive-shafts 11, 12.
• Fig 2 illustrates the reference member 10, the locations of the central, front carrier, and rear carrier axes 1, 2, 3, and the carrier distance 40 separating the front and rear carrier axes 2, 3.
• the reference member 10 is depicted as two halves but in practice, they would be integral or fastened together.
• FIG. 3 illustrates the rear carrier 21, the locations of the front central and front offset axes
• Fig 4 illustrates an offset member 31, the locations of the front and rear member axes 6, 7, and the carrier distance 40 separating them.
• FIGs 5A-5D illustrate the effect of rotating the first drive-shaft 11 to four incremental angles.
• Rotating the integral central member 30 causes the engaged offset members 31 to circulate around the central axis 1 at a fixed orientation.
• the circulating offset members 31 cause the front carrier 20, the integral second drive-shaft 12, and the rear carrier 21, to rotate in unison and in the same direction as the first drive-shaft 11, but at half the rate.
• the first drive-shaft 11 is the drive shaft
• the second drive-shaft 12 is the driven shaft
• the reduction ratio is 2: 1.
• FIG 6 illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the first exemplary embodiment except for the following.
• the central axis 1 is co-axial with the front carrier axis 2 and each front member axis 6 intersects the center of the associated offset member 31.
• This configuration provides co-axial first and second drive- shafts 11, 12.
• FIG 7 illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the first exemplary embodiment except for the following.
• the central axis 1 is co-axial with the rear carrier axis 3 and each rear member axis 7 intersects the center of the associated offset member 31.
• This configuration provides a co-axial first drive-shaft 11 and rear carrier 21.
• Fig 8 illustrates a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the third exemplary embodiment except for the following.
• the central member 30 is floating. This configuration allows self-alignment of the central member 30.
• Fig 9 illustrates a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the third exemplary embodiment except for the following.
• the rear carrier 21 is floating. This configuration allows self-alignment of the offset members 31.
• FIG 10 illustrates a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the first exemplary embodiment except for the following.
• the central and offset members 30, 31, are to one side of the front and rear carriers 20, 21.
• Each pair of front and rear shafts 13, 14 are integrated into a crank-shaft that penetrates a floating front carrier 20 to reach the rear carrier 21.
• This configuration provides cantilever central and offset members 30, 31.
• FIG 11 illustrates a seventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the fifth exemplary embodiment except for the following.
• the central member 30 is a ring instead of a pinion. This configuration provides an overdrive ratio.
• Fig 12 illustrates an eighth exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the sixth exemplary embodiment except for the following.
• the central member 30 is a ring instead of a pinion and a hollow first drive-shaft 11 exits the front 50 of the reference member 10. This configuration provides an overdrive ratio and overlapping first and second drive-shafts 11, 12.
• FIG. 13 illustrates a ninth exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the first exemplary embodiment except for the following.
• the central member 30 and each offset member 31 are engaged by a flexible coupling 32.
• Fig 14 illustrates a tenth exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the first exemplary embodiment except for the following.
• the central member 30 and all offset members 31 are engaged by a serpentine coupling 33.
• Figs 15A-D illustrate an eleventh exemplary embodiment of the present invention which is similar to the first exemplary embodiment except for the following.
• a single offset member 31 acts as the fixed reference and is engaged with the central member 30 by a capstan cable coupling 34.
• Figs 5C-5D illustrate the effect of rotating the first drive-shaft 11 with respect to the reference member 10.
• the central member 30 simultaneously rotates and circulates around the offset member 31 while the reference member 10 circulates at a fixed orientation.
• the second drive-shaft 12 also circulates and may be attached to a load to counter-balance the mass of the central member 30, and possibly an actuator which may be integral with the reference member 10.
• RR is computed from Pc and Po, which are the pitch diameter of the central member 30, and offset members 31, respectively. When the engaging members are gears, Pc and Po are integer multiples of the tooth module.
• RR and RR' are as follows.
• a second, third, and fourth example demonstrate that different ratios may be obtained by changing the engaging members only.
• OD remains constant so the same reference member 10 and carriers 20, 21 may be used.
• a sixth example considers the ninth and tenth exemplary embodiments illustrated in Figs 13 and 14.
• a flexible or serpentine coupling 32, 33 engages the pinions so pitch diameters may not necessarily be integer multiples of a particular tooth module.
• the offset members 31 may have non-uniform front and rear member axes 8, 9 as long as the associated front and rear offset axes 6, 7 are similarly nonuniform, although vibration may result from the associated imbalance.
• Certain exemplary embodiments depict front and rear carriers 20, 21 that occupy the same plane. This is possible when there are a small number of offset members 31, but mechanical interference may limit the associated motion range of the apparatus.
• Certain exemplary embodiments comprise only pinions which are economical to manufacture and may engage flexible couplings.
• Certain exemplary embodiments operate with low pitch velocity resulting in high efficiency, low vibration, and quiet operation at high speeds.
• Certain exemplary embodiments provide a reduction ratio with a theoretical lower limit of unity, making any desired reduction ratio possible.
• Certain exemplary embodiments may be configured for offset or co-axial drive axes.
• Certain exemplary embodiments have an easily accommodated assembly criteria and may be configured to include sequential meshing and hunting teeth for low vibration, quiet operation, and uniform break-in.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Retarders (AREA)
• General Details Of Gearings (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (3)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 2015
  • 2015-05-11 US US15/310,690 patent/US9970509B2/en active Active
  • 2015-05-11 EP EP15833037.3A patent/EP3143305B1/de active Active
  • 2015-05-11 CN CN201580037671.8A patent/CN106536974B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2015-05-11 WO PCT/CA2015/050423 patent/WO2016026032A1/en not_active Ceased

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